ANNUAL climbers are a cheap and cheerful way of bringing colour into the garden. They are useful for masking unsightly areas - compost heaps, sheds, wheelie bins etc - and scramble up and through trellises, pagodas, even unattractive shrubs and hedges.

I want to grow some in pots to hide the garden shed, and sowing now will give early flowers. Hardy climbers like sweet peas, and near hardy Trapaeolum speciosum will be OK left outdoors in a sheltered spot, but tender types like cup-and-saucer vine Cobea scandens will need keeping frost-free in the greenhouse until May. Sowing now gets them established early.
For best results, sow directly into pots or troughs of John Innes No 2, or multipurpose compost with a top layer of seed compost to avoid seedling root burn.

If you are sowing hardy climbers or other hardy annuals directly into the ground, create a fine tilth, and water before sowing. Sow climbers in straight drills so you can support them. Canes and netting work, while hazel poles look very attractive. Popular climbers include hardy sweet peas; and tender cup-and-saucer vine (green-white flowers ageing purple); Morning Glory (indigo, blue or purple trumpets); vivid yellow black-eyed Susan; and Canary creeper, which also have bright yellow flowers.